Pakistan garment association urges Pakistani government to revise textile policy

The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) has urged the government to revise the textile policy by formulating regulations for specific sectors therein to tackle decline in textile exports.

Due to unavailability of latest fabric locally, the garment sector at present has a limited export product line, PRGMEA central chairman Ijaz A Khokhar told a news agency recently. Foreign buyers are demanding new garments based on raw material, which are neither available in Pakistan nor produced by Pakistani weavers, he said.

Pressing for formulation of sector-wise policies, Khokhar said more than 30 per cent cash flow was blocked for a long time in the form of sales tax refund and customs rebate, which led to a liquidity crunch in the industry. Moreover, as value-added products from Pakistan are unable to fetch a high price due to poor packaging, there is a need to set up a product packaging centre to ensure better packaging, he said.

The government should announce a special research and development support fund in this sector, he added.